Natural Radioactivity and Assessment of Associated Radiation Hazards in Soil and Water Samples Collected from in and around of the Barapukuria 2×125 MW Coal Fired Thermal Power Plant, Dinajpur, Bangladesh

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides Ra, Th and K in soil and water samples collected from Barapukuria 2×125 MW Coal Fired Thermal Power Plant area situated in Dinajpur district of Bangladesh were measured using gamma ray spectrometry technique. Two types of soil samples namely, active and passive soil samples and both surface and underground water samples were analysed under the current study. The average activity concentrations of Ra, Th and K in active soil samples were found to be 27.89±5.15, 41.52±6.19 and 632.45±133.06 Bqkg, respectively and the values were 32.82±6.48, 56.01±8.50 and 777.41±168.39 Bqkg, respectively in the passive soil samples. These results are slightly higher than the worldwide average values of 35, 30 and 400 Bqkg, respectively for corresponding radionuclides except the Ra for both active and passive soils. The activity contents of the water samples did not show any evidence of enhancement due to the power plant operation and the mining activities near the sample collection area. The average absorbed dose rate (D) and outdoor annual effective dose (E) were observed to be 64.52 nGyh and 0.078 mSvyr, respectively in the active and 81.65 nGyh and 0.10 mSvyr, respectively in the passive soil samples. The average absorbed dose rates were higher than worldwide average values for both active and passive soil samples. Whereas, the radium equivalent activity and external hazard indices were less than the world average values.